Crowded field emerges for Hudson Valley Senate seat

At least four Republicans are considering a run against Sen. Terry Gipson, D-Rhinebeck, next year in a district that includes parts of Dutchess and Putnam counties.

Dutchess County Comptroller Jim Coughlan said he is contemplating a run and holding an event Dec. 9 to fete the local Conservative Party, which could be instrumental in deciding Gipson’s challenger.

Former Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus said he’s been approached by local leaders to consider a run against Gipson, the freshman senator.

Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik has raised $215,000 for a potential campaign, and Dutchess County Legislature chairman Robert Rolison said in September he plans to seek the Senate seat. Rolison’s late father, Jay Rolison, was a state senator for more than two decades.

Republicans are eager to win back the seat they lost in 2012. Sen. Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, had held the seat since 1990 , but he narrowly lost to Gipson in a three-way race with Conservative Party candidate Neil Di Carlo.

Saland was one of four Senate Republicans to support the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2011, leading to opposition from conservatives.

Coughlan, who ran unopposed for a second term this month, said he’s hopeful Republicans and Conservatives can coalesce around one candidate in 2014. The 41st District has 10,000 more enrolled Democrats than Republicans.

“The Republican Party and the conservatives need to come together if we’re going to offset the higher number of Democrats that are in this county,” Coughlan said.

The campaign for the seat will be one of the more competitive ones in the state next year. Republicans lost the majority in 2012, but have retained power through a coalition with a group of four Democrats.

Democrats said they are confident that Gipson will win a second term.

“Terry Gipson secured investments to create jobs throughout his district, cut taxes for middle class families and worked across party lines to provide real solutions to reform Albany,” Senate Democratic spokesperson Mike Murphy said in a statement.

“No matter who runs against him next year, Senator Gipson will stand on his record as an Albany outsider fighting tirelessly to bring about the change our state government so desperately needs.”

Steinhaus has won countywide elections nine times. He served four terms as county clerk and then five terms as county executive before retiring in 2011. He said he’s been encouraged to run against Gipson, but said he wouldn’t make a decision until early next year.

“It’s a 2014 discussion if it’s going to be held at all,” Steinhaus said.

Tkazyik said the area needs a new voice in Albany.

“I’ve received enthusiastic support and outreach from my supporters who believe that John Tkazyik belongs in the state Senate,” he said.